A decision to close two squash courts at Polkyth Leisure Centre has been slammed – by the company which built and gifted the courts to the community more than 40 years ago.

The two courts at the St Austell leisure centre are set to be closed and turned into more gym space with the new operators of the centre – GLL, under the name Better – saying that they were not being used enough.

However this week the firm which built the courts stepped in and expressed its disappointment at the closure and lack of consultation over the plans.

The courts had been built in 1974 by the china clay industry with the project funded by the then English China Clays (ECC) as part of the company’s wider investments in community infrastructure and good causes.

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Ashley Shopland, general manager of Imerys in the UK, which took over ECC in 1999, said: “As a major employer contributing significantly to the local economy and community, the china clay industry, through Imerys and prior to this ECC, has a long history of supporting local community projects.

“The squash courts at Polkyth were built and paid for by ECC and donated to the local community as a facility for people to use. There is still a plaque in place on the wall recognising this donation by the company and the courts themselves are well used to this day.

“Personally, as someone who uses the facility I join many others in being deeply disappointed at the decision and the complete lack of consultation with users before it was taken. From a company perspective, it is equally disappointing and unsatisfactory that Better have failed to recognise the contribution by ECC or to consult with Imerys before pressing ahead in shutting a sports facility which was built for and gifted in perpetuity to the local community.”

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In a joint statement GLL and Cornwall Council said: “As the squash court at Polkyth has only 11 regular users each week the facility is not sustainable. By converting the squash courts the gym expansion is projected to reach an extra 64,000 annual users; helping to get more people active in Cornwall.

“Polkyth’s squash players can continue to play their favourite sport in St Austell through GLL’s investment in upgraded squash facilities at the rugby club. The public provision is part of our commitment to community players in seven affordable locations across the county. In addition, players have access to their nearest Better centres and gym access across the county – including at Polkyth.

“GLL included extending the gym at Polkyth in their tender proposal to Cornwall Council; the low number of regular squash players did not reach the threshold for public consultation.”